The UC Berkeley Social Sciences Dean’s Office recently launched the Social Sciences Young Alumni Council to create an early-stage volunteer leadership opportunity for recent graduates and for them to benefit from the perspectives and guidance of these committed alumni. The council provides guidance on student- and young alumni-focused programs and ways the university may be a better resource for alumni.
The Social Sciences Young Alumni Council is open to recent university graduates and offers members access to events with senior-level alumni, donors and volunteers, as well as exposure to university leadership. The council gives young graduates a seat at the table with more established alumni, so that they can leverage the UC Berkeley networks as they progress through their early careers and move to new cities after leaving Cal.
“The university has, as we see it, a responsibility to make the alumni network available and accessible to young alums,” said Christian Gordon, assistant dean of development for UC Berkeley Social Sciences. “It can be really helpful in early-stage professional development as you build out your professional network. In both the social and professional realms, we want to be present for our community.”
Councilmembers advise on strategies for how Social Sciences engages with young alumni; what benefits young alumni should be provided by the university; and what philanthropy looks like to recent graduates, Gordon said. They are encouraged to draw on their recent experiences at Cal to offer a perspective that represents the needs of current students. Gordon said creating an outlet for volunteer leadership for young alumni leverages their experiences as students and recent graduates, improving our student facing programs.
“The Social Sciences is an excellent place to do this work because we are the largest academic unit on campus and home to a large population of underrepresented students and faculty, so we’re very much in tune and aligned with the needs of those communities,” Gordon said. “We want to make sure that there are people like our young alumni, who understand the needs of our current students when we are considering solutions or initiatives that will impact students’ lives.”
Young Alumni Council members are provided with the same benefits as members of other Social Sciences giving and volunteer communities such as The 1903 Society and The Social Sciences Dean’s Circle. These include invitation and priority registration for Social Sciences and College of Letters & Science alumni events, networking receptions and regional alumni activities, such as a recent talk by Economics Professor Jon Steinsson in Los Angeles.
Isabel Huerta, who graduated in 2023 with a degree in Ethnic Studies and Legal Studies, said the alumni community's ability to transform students' lives inspired her to join the Social Sciences Young Alumni Council. She also hopes their work will encourage graduates to engage with the alumni community earlier in their post-college lives.
“The Social Sciences Young Alumni Council is about creating opportunities for younger alums to stay connected to Cal now — not just at reunions years from now,” said Huerta, who serves as deputy director of digital communications for First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. “I want to help build a culture of giving back that’s not just about donations, but about showing up for the school, for each other and for the next generation of students.”
Huerta said that one of the primary goals of the Young Alumni Council is to develop effective ways of engaging with young alumni that resonate with younger generations, creating a community where they feel connected and supported.
“When we create spaces for alumni to connect, you’ll see how quickly we find common ground, no matter our backgrounds or disciplines. We all share that same grit and nostalgia — the late nights in Main Stacks, grabbing Top Dog and walking Durant, going to football games,” she said. ”It’s those shared experiences that make it so easy to connect and show alumni just how powerful this network can be for one another.”
The UC Berkeley Social Sciences Young Alumni Council was made possible by the support of Social Sciences Dean Raka Ray and Economics alumna and 1903 Society volunteer Addy Spiller. Social Sciences alumni interested in joining the Social Sciences Young Alumni Council can reach out to socialsciences@berkeley.edu.
